DEKALB, Ill. – The Toledo baseball team trailed 10-4 at one point in Sunday's game at Northern Illinois, but the bats exploded in the middle innings en route to an 18-12 win to complete the series sweep.

Both teams turned in their best offensive performance of the weekend, but the Rockets (23-24, 11-13 MAC) outshined the Huskies in the series finale. UT slugged eight extra-base hits and swiped eight bags, causing havoc in the batter's box and on the basepaths.

Northern Illinois led, 10-4, after four innings, but a seven-run fifth put Toledo back on top. UT followed with two runs in the sixth and five more in the seventh to break the game open.

Sophomore Owen Jackson hit his 16^th home run of the year, which ties the school record for most home runs in a single season with teammate Mason Sykes, who hit 16 homers last season.

"The offense carried the day today," head coach Rob Reinstetle said. "We did a great job up and down the lineup turning in quality at-bats Even when we got behind early, I had faith that the offense would rise to the challenge and get us back in the game. RJ Shunck was awesome in his time on the mound too. He didn't let them score and that's when our offense came alive. Kyle Music was also very good the last two innings of the game. Sweeping a weekend is always great and I'm very proud of the way we competed all weekend."

Jackson hit one of four Toledo home runs in Sunday's win. Senior Mason Sykes, junior Jeron Williams, and sophomore Caden Konczak all left the yard as well.

Sykes went 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs, three runs scored, and two stolen bases. Williams also drove in three runs and stole two bases to bring his season total to 46 thefts, putting him just four stolen bases away from tying the all-time MAC single-season stolen base record of 50 set by Central Michigan's Larry Lamphere in 1988.

Freshman Troy Sudbrook enjoyed a terrific day at the plate, going 4-for-5 with four RBIs and two stolen bases, setting season highs in hits and RBIs.

Sophomore Brayden White drove in a run to bring his weekend RBI total to seven. Freshman Wesley Parker went 3-for-4 with two extra-base hits and three runs scored.

Six different pitchers saw time on the mound on Sunday. Freshman RJ Shunck and junior Kyle Music both had great outings. Shunck struck out six in 2.2 scoreless innings and Music punched out four in 2.0 scoreless frames.

The Rockets visit Oakland on Tuesday, May 9 in non-conference play before welcoming Central Michigan to Scott Park next weekend.

• Brayden White continued his productive weekend with an RBI in the first to give Toledo an early lead.
• Northern Illinois answered with four runs in the bottom half of the first to take a 4-1 lead.
• Toledo tied the game at 4-4 with three two-out runs in the second. Troy Sudbrook's RBI double was followed by Jeron Williams' two-run homer to tie the game.
• The Huskies appeared to blow the game open, scoring six runs over the next three innings to take a 10-4 lead.
• The Rockets didn't stay down for long, retaking the lead with a seven-run fifth.
• Mason Sykes opened the scoring in that frame with a three-run homer and Sudbrook, Williams, Brian Fry, and Garret Pike all drove in runs to help put the score at 11-10.
• UT tacked on two more runs in the sixth to make it 13-10.
• The offensive barrage continued in the seventh. Caden Konczak and Owen Jackson hit back-to-back home runs and Fry and Sudbrook drove in runs on consecutive RBI singles to put Toledo ahead 18-10.
• NIU scored a pair in the eighth on a bases-loaded walk and a passed ball, putting the score at 18-12, which would hold as the final score.